Hitting the road in India can be a very enjoyable time for you and your loved ones. When it comes to travelling, healthy eating is one of the first things that is neglected. Whether travelling by car or train you can still make healthy choices for food. It is important to eat well while you are on the road. Here are some food tips for the people who loved travelling.
Healthy Travel Food Ideas
Whether heading out on a business trip or taking a vacation many of the unhealthy cravings we experience on the road can be satisfied with a simple, refreshing drink of pure water. Make sure you stay hydrated, water helps you eat less by keeping you feeling full and energized.
Green tea/tea/coffee/lemonade/soups/buttermilk/coconut water you can carry while leaving home or you can buy. Pack a few healthier snacks and mess-free meals good for you which speed by those rest stops.
Driving while eating is not a wise option. If your driving route allows, plan a pit stop at a park or other favorite spot on the way. If that's not an option, be sure to pack foods that are easy to eat.
You can pack foods and snacks that satiate the cravings and provides nutrients too while travelling. Choose healthy multigrain bread sandwiches for a better choice of breakfast.
Sandwiches, fresh fruit (apples and bananas work well) and soup in a thermos for easy sipping. For a sweet treat, cookies and pieces of dark chocolate are advisable.
Great Snack Ideas
Dried, toasted, cooked and fresh food are good choices for healthy travel snacks.
Long day travel makes people tired and bored, hence they eat more. Raw veggies and fruit are a much safer bet than chocolate.
Tangy snacks uplift the mood while travelling.
Bhelpuri is a savoury that is made up of puffed rice, peanuts, and vegetables(onion, tomato), sprinkled with mixed spices and herbs to make it an ideal quick Indian snack.
What Food to Carry While Travelling
Some best food to carry while travelling for lunch are:-
Whole wheat Chapaties with vegetables, salad and yogurt
Brown or white rice with chicken, paneer or leafy veggies
Multigrain bread mini sandwiches
Whole wheat pasta/noodles
Idli/plain dosa with chutney
Green leafy vegetables with or without chicken
Salad with healthy and fat-free dressing
Moong dal chilla with preferable dip
Doodhi(lauki) thepla with tomato ketchup
Doodhi or methi muthia with coriander chutney
Thalipeeth and tomato chutney
Diet Foods and Healthy Snacks
People are very conscious about their health nowadays. They mostly look for diet foods and snacks in day to day life. It’s not so tough to maintain a diet while travelling as we have many options available in India. One can carry homemade snacks for better health and to stay energetic through travelling. Some are mentioned below for your ease, low on calories and won’t make you fat!.
Vegetable chaat
Sprout salad
Roasted seeds
Roasted chickpeas
Poha with onion or potatoes and a few peanuts - garnished with a handful of coriander leaves
Healthy snacks don’t need to be complicated. Just a piece of fruit can incredibly satisfy the appetite.
Good Nutrition Snacks
Some can even keep you full throughout the day and limit your cravings for unhealthy foods.
Nuts
An ideal nutritious snack. Nuts are the perfect balance of healthy fat, protein, and fibre. They’re perfect for taking on the go.
Fruit
Portable, easy-to-eat. Includes bananas, apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, and oranges etc. You can grab these from home before you leave the house, or they can easily be found at the roadside shops.
Tilgul Ladoos
This healthy Indian snack has anti-ageing properties and is a perfect sweet for winters.
Corn
Corn is rich in fiber, you can carry boiled corn while travelling. Or you can buy roasted corn from the roadside stalls.
Sprouts
Dal moth or sautéed moong with onion, tomato, garlic and coriander in it.
Chips
Many types of chips are available in the market, you can buy or carry homemade chips.
Popcorn
A good snack while travelling.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate has also been known to improve mood.
Healthy Quick Snacks to Buy
In India, there is no shortage of options. We have listed below few best Indian snacks for you. When it comes to healthy Indian snacks, there are multiple guilt-free options available in India. No matter in which city you live in, you can easily access these in all parts of the country. Moreover, these quick healthy evening snacks will keep you energetic without adding extra pounds to your weight.
Makhanas
Makhana is also known as fox nuts, and it is a favorite Indian snack item. Makhana is low-fat and an ideal snack. Makhana is a light snack and can be consumed at any time of the day. Flavored Makhana is also easily available nowadays.
Beaten Moong
This snack has been sold on the streets of India since always and is now finally getting its much-deserved recognition. You can easily buy beaten moong from a shop near you.
Protein Bars
You can have an Indian version of protein bars with household ingredients like Jaggery, almonds, honey, peanuts, murmure & channa, etc.
Chivda/Poha
Chivda or Poha is a highly demanded Indian dry snack. Most of the Namkeens you find out have chivda as its main ingredient.
Murmure/Puffed Rice
Murmure or puffed rice is also a popular base for many namkeens and mixtures that are available in the market. They are light for the stomach and make for a great mid-day snack.
Whole Wheat Biscuits
The biscuits that we enjoy with a cup of tea are often flour-based and can be bad for our gut health. Thankfully, wheat biscuits are sold by many organic food brands, which are a much better alternative.
Khakhra
This popular Gujarati snack has made its presence felt all over the country. Khakhra is a healthier and perfect alternative to packaged junk food and is stomach-friendly. It is often accompanied by a pickle, which brings the best taste out of it.
Final Words
Although all of the above healthy travel snack ideas are a great choice, pairing them appropriately will keep you fuller longer. Please don't forget the extra bag for garbage and some paper towels for emergency spills.
